Environmental control capsule and system therefor

ABSTRACT

A capsule for the storage and movement of patients in hospitals providing all necessary life support systems in a controlled environment for the patient, as well as all necessary monitoring of the patient&#39;&#39;s need as a part of the system, together with a plurality of other similar capsules movably mounted on track means so that the patient, while in the capsule, can be moved to various areas within a hospital such as the nursing area, the operating room, the radiology room and so forth, on either the same or separate levels, together with control means for operating the capsule and its movement within the various areas.

United States Patent Breger [451 May 9,1972

William N. Breger, 193 West 10th Street, New York, NY. 10014 [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 888,791

[72] Inventor:

3,453,659 7/1969 Beecher et a1. 128/1 R Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Edward l-lalle ABSTRACT A capsule for the storage and movement of patients in hospitals providing all necessary life support systems in a controlled environment for the patient, as well as all necessary monitoring of the patients need as a part of the system, together with a plurality of other similar capsules movably mounted on track means so that the patient, while in the capsule, can be moved to various areas within a hospital such as the nursing area, the operating room, the radiology room and so forth, on either the same or separate levels, together with control means for operating the capsule and its movement within the various areas.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 3,661 .145

SHIN 1 OF 4 &

FIG. I INVENTOR WILLIAM N.BREGER ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAY 9 m2 SHEET 3 [IF 4 PATENTEDMM 9 I972 SHIU u [1F 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL CAPSULE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR The present invention relates to an environmental control capsule adapted to hold hospital patients therein and conduit means detachably connecting said capsule to hot air, cold air and exhaust ducts and to sources of oxygen, light, waste disposal, and to sources of other materials which might be needed to maintain the patient. The capsule rides in a loft area 42 comprising a first space or plenum in which the capsule is located, said first plenum being separated by a partition from a second plenum that contains a monorail on which the capsule is mounted and rides. The capsule life support systems are situated in the second plenum at a service area in the loft area. The environment within the capsule can be controlled and closely regulated, and the patient can be easily and safely transported from place to place in the hospital while in the controlled environment.

The present invention offers distinct advantages to the individual patient. He could be placed in the proper atmosphere and environment for his illness thereby minimizing the possibilities of infection, chilling and so forth. If the patient is not under sedation, he may either have visual and oral contact with his neighbors or caretakers through the television system in the capsule, or may isolate himself completely. The capsules would provide for both nursing ease and patient comfort since they combine the nursing advantages of the open ward system with the privacy inherent in a private room system.

In a preferred embodiment, some hospital floors would consist of a nursing station and the required hookups for supplying air, light, waste disposal, and so forth, as well as storage facilities for the capsule. This kind of space would be a loft type space where the architectural design requirements apart from the structural and mechanical needs would not be major.

The invention is particularly adaptable for the care of those patients who might be under sedation for certain portions of their treatment because all of their therapeutic, medical and surgical needs can be performed by the use of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration, and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specification wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view in section showing the capsule and associated life support systems;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section showing the capsule and life support systems;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing two capsules and their associated track means, the bottom capsule being sectioned along line 22 of FIG. 2: and

HG. 4 is a plan view of a typical ward, treatment area and hall configuration embodying the present invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The present invention can be understood most readily by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The invention comprises an environmental control capsule 1 which is linked by support means 2, a motor 3 and roller means 4 to a monorail 5. The capsule rides in a first space or lower plenum 6 located above the floor 7, and the monorail is situated in a second or upper plenum 8 which is situated above and separated from the first plenum by a partition 9 having a space 10 through which the capsule support 2 extends. Suitable life support systems indicated generally by reference numeral 11 are situated in the second plenum 8 and may be detachably connected to a manifold housing 12 in the upper portion of the capsule when the capsule is in the service area, as will be described in greater detail hereafter. Flexible hose 13 means carry the support materials to the interior of the capsule from the housing.

The capsule 1 may be of any desired shape or construction. In a preferred embodiment, however, the capsule is formed of a transparent plastic material which may be polarized to exclude varying degrees oflight, and the body is preferably teardrop in shape as best seen in cross section in FIG. 1 so as to provide uniform air distribution within the capsule.

The capsule 1 contains a l2-part gatch spring type bed 14 which is adjustable through motor means 15 either by remote control or by the patient. The bed 14 comprises adjustable back 16 and leg portions 17 and a side portion 18 which can be raised to serve the function of a side railing to keep the patient from rolling off the bed. A bedpan 19 is provided below the bed for removal of a patients liquid and solid wastes from the environment, and gull wing doors 20 on the capsule provide a means of access to the patient. A television screen 21 and television monitor 22 and associated high voltage line 23 provide visual and voice communication with the capsule. Apparatus to measure the vital signs of the patient can be placed inside the capsule on a low voltage line 24. The vital sign output canbe transmitted to vital function readout means in at least one service area. Various types of apparatus for measuring vital signs can be included. For example, apparatus for measuring the patient's temperature, pulse beat and blood pressure can be installed. In FIG. 2 of the drawings, reference numerals 24a, 24b and 24s are shown in boxes connected to low voltage line 24. These boxes represent various means for measuring vital signs of the patient. For example, box 24a may represent a means to take the patients temperature; box 241; may represent a means to count the patients pulse beats; and box 240 and may represent a means for obtaining the patient's blood pressure. Low voltage line 24 represents a conduit through which data from these various means can be transmitted to complementary vital function readout means 50 in at least one of the service areas. This is represented in H6. 4 of the drawings as a box attached to one of the support pillars 38. Box 50 will contain a complementary readout means for each means for measuring vital signs as contained in each capsule 1. Reference numeral 24 is intended to designate the conduits running to and from the capsule for various purposes including the connection of means 24a, 24b and 24c to complementary means in readout box 50. Of course, in an actual installation, there will be a plurality of conduits for these purposes which may be connected in any means known to the art.

The capsule has an emergency cutoff switch 25 in case of malfunctioning of the capsule or life support systems.

Most of the capsule life support systems are mounted on a support 26 in the second or upper plenum 8. A series of ducts 27 are provided to carry hot air or cool air, and to provide exhaust ventilation for the capsule respectively. Each duct has a retractable conduit means 28 associated with it. A conventional electric motor 29 may be used to extend a portion of the conduit means into registry with inlet orifice 30 in housing 12 of capsule l as shown in dotted line. In addition to the duct system, a number of other life support substances such as oxygen, air and so forth are fed to the service area that holds the ducts by means of suitable pipe means 31. Each pipe has associated with it a retractable conduit 32 for insertion into the capsule housing 12. All the various life support conduits can be designed to automatically extend into the inlet orifices of the housing when the capsule 1 comes into proper servicing position below the opening 10 in the partition 9 so as to trip solenoid 33.

The patients solid and liquid wastes are removed from bedpan 19 by means of retractable conduit 34 and associated pipe means 35 situated just below the floor 7 in the uppermost section of the upper plenum 8 in the underlying level or loft area 42. The retractable conduit operates in the same manner as the conduits in the other life support systems. The bedpan may be flushed with water from suitable conduit 40 and pipe means 41 after the wastes have been removed.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of two capsules and the associated monorail system. The capsule pictured in the lower portion of the drawing is sectioned along the line 22 in H0. 2 and shows the internal structure of the capsule.

FIG. 4 shows a typical hospital floor plan embodying the present invention. The plan covers a design for one, or more, patient treatment areas such as a nursing ward 35, and a physicians treating area 36. There is also a hallway 37. The capsules are arranged in a regular sequence in ward 35 which only has a small number of support pillars 38. Capsules may be moved from their normal position below the life support systems along the monorail system as illustrated in H0. 4. Movement to a treating or operating room 36, which lies adjacent the ward and is separated from it by suitable wall partitions 39, is easily accomplished. During the short time the capsule is in transit, the environment remains essentially the same as it was when the capsule was attached to the support systems in the servicing area.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

1. A system for the care of patients, including a structure having at least one loft area and at least one service area comprising rail means associated with said loft area and said service area, in combination with a capsule having a main body portion including means to hold a patient therein, means to movably support the capsule in relation to said rail means, conduit means communicating with the interior of the capsule, and means to supply said capsule with life support materials, in which said service area comprises a patient treatment area, and in which said loft area is provided with reservoir means to supply life support materials together with means to which said capsule conduits can be attached, and in which said capsule can be selectively moved through said loft area to said service area.

2. A capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which the means to movably support said capsule to the rail are situated on the upper surface of said capsule.

3. A capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which the means to supply said capsule with life support materials comprises a housing situated on the upper surface of said capsule, said housing containing at least one inlet orifice.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which said service area is a plurality of service areas and comprises a first service area for nursing services and a second service area for physicians services.

5. A system for the care of patients, including a structure having at least one loft area and at least one service area comprising rail means associated with said loft area and said service area, in combination with a capsule having a main body portion including means to hold a patient therein, means to movably support the capsule in relation to said rail means, conduit means communicating with the interior of the capsule, and means to supply said capsule with life support materials, in which said capsule can be selectively moved through said loft area to said service area, in which the loft area comprises a first plenum and a second plenum wherein the capsule is located in the first plenum and the rail means is located in the second plenum, said plenums being divided by partition means having space means associated with the rail means through which the capsule support means may be spaced, comprising a first service area for nursing services and a second service area for physicians services, and in which the second plenum area is provided with reservoir means to supply life support materials together with means to which said capsule conduits can be attached.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, in which there are means within the capsule to record vital functions of the patient, together with conduit means to transmit data gathered by said vital function recording means, said conduit means being connected to complementary vital function readout means at at least one service area.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 which comprises a plu: rality of loft areas and a plurality of service areas and a plurality of rails, and in which substantially all capsules can be moved to substantially all areas within the system. 

1. A system for the care of patients, including a structure having at least one loft area and at least one service area comprising rail means associated with said loft area and said service area, in combination with a capsule having a main body portion including means to hold a patient therein, means to movably support the capsule in relation to said rail means, conduit means communicating with the interior of the capsule, and means to supply said capsule with life support materials, in which said service area comprises a patient treatment area, and in which said loft area is provided with reservoir means to supply life support materials together with means to which said capsule conduits can be attached, and in which said capsule can be selectively moved through said loft area to said service area.
 2. A capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which the means to movably support said capsule to the rail are situated on the upper surface of said capsule.
 3. A capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which the means to supply said capsule with life support materials comprises a housing situated on the upper surface of said capsule, said housing containing at least one inlet orifice.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which said service area is a plurality of service areas and comprises a first service area for nursing services and a second service area for physician''s services.
 5. A system for the care of patieNts, including a structure having at least one loft area and at least one service area comprising rail means associated with said loft area and said service area, in combination with a capsule having a main body portion including means to hold a patient therein, means to movably support the capsule in relation to said rail means, conduit means communicating with the interior of the capsule, and means to supply said capsule with life support materials, in which said capsule can be selectively moved through said loft area to said service area, in which the loft area comprises a first plenum and a second plenum wherein the capsule is located in the first plenum and the rail means is located in the second plenum, said plenums being divided by partition means having space means associated with the rail means through which the capsule support means may be spaced, comprising a first service area for nursing services and a second service area for physician''s services, and in which the second plenum area is provided with reservoir means to supply life support materials together with means to which said capsule conduits can be attached.
 6. The system as claimed in claim 5, in which there are means within the capsule to record vital functions of the patient, together with conduit means to transmit data gathered by said vital function recording means, said conduit means being connected to complementary vital function readout means at at least one service area.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 6 which comprises a plurality of loft areas and a plurality of service areas and a plurality of rails, and in which substantially all capsules can be moved to substantially all areas within the system. 